Feuding for area nonprofits

The new year is bringing some good old-fashioned feuding to the forefront as a way to help area nonprofit organizations.

It’s all being done in a fun way through a popular American television game show, “Family Feud.”

Beginning Sunday at 7 p.m., Family Feud Fundraiser will debut its monthly game show at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. It’s the brainchild of Scott Limberg and his crew at Limberg Productions, more commonly known as Owatonna Live.

In the augural game show, teachers from Owatonna High School will be challenging teachers from Owatonna Middle School. Brad Fischer of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce has been selected as the host. Computer software will be utilized and projected on a large screen for the questions, answers and sound effects.

Limberg is hoping for 300 people to attend the game show, which will also be livestreamed on Owatonna Live. Tickets are $10 per person with a portion being donated to the nonprofits selected for the night.

There will be two nonprofits from Steele County featured during each game show, according to Limburg. The teams, which will each feature five contestants, will pick which nonprofits they want to support, he said.

While there will be no commercial breaks during the show, representatives from the nonprofits will be given 10 minutes each to share about their organizations and how they benefit the greater community of Steele County. The nonprofits will also be allowed to put up displays for audience members to look at prior to and after the game show.

The nonprofits chosen by the teachers for the first show are Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The winning team will be awarded $200 while the losing team will get $100. An additional $200 will be given for the fast money portion of the show. All the prize money will be given to the chosen nonprofits.

With the ticket sales being divided between the nonprofits, Limberg is confident each nonprofit should earn at least $1,100. As the fundraiser grows, Limberg hopes each nonprofit may be able to earn up to $3,000 each time.

Limberg also expects nonprofits to host meals prior to the game shows, through there is no meal planned for the first show. Raffles may also be included down the road.

“We’re hoping this is going to snowball for the benefit of the nonprofits,” Limberg said.

Family Feud has had three separate runs, the first of which started in 1976 with the original host Richard Dawson. Within a year of its debut, Family Feud became the number one game show in daytime television. While ratings later declined, the program revived in 2010 and became among the top three most-popular syndicated television shows in the U.S.

“Everyone knows the Family Feud and loves the Family Feud,” said Limberg. “We’re hoping to make people excited, have fun and make money for nonprofits,” he added.

Lisa Cochran, who participated in a rehearsal of the show last week, was excited about what she saw. “I think it’s going to be a blast,” she said.

Limberg said he picked up the idea after Medford High School performed Family Feud during Homecoming festivities this past fall.
After COVID-19 hit a few years ago, Limberg started online bingo, which proved to be successful. At the start, there were 30 bingo players and by the time COVID ended, it had grown to 180.

“I’ve been looking for a way to raise money for nonprofits and do it publicly,” Limberg said.

He hopes people will become enthusiastic about the show and come out to support the nonprofits.

“We’ve been planning it for two months,” he said. “We wanted a fresh start for the start of the year.”
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Family Feud Fundraiser

What: Benefit for area nonprofits

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church- Owatonna

When: Sunday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

Other: Tickets are $10 or watch livestream on Owatonna Live

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